The study examines issues related to service quality and customer loyalty in the commercial airline industry. The results of an empirical study, using data collected on two air carriers, indicate that current levels of perceived service quality are below potential and that customer loyalty to airlines is low. A significant relationship was found to exist between service quality (carrier image) and retained preference, a measure of customer loyalty.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Babakus, E., and G.W. Boller (1992). "An Empirical Assessment of the SERVQUAL Scale ." Journal of Business Research, 24: 253-68.
2.
Barnett, A., T. Curtis, J. Goranson, and A. Patrick (1992). "Better Than Ever: Nonstop Jet Service in an Era of Hubs and Spokes." Sloan Management Review, Winter: 49-54.
Berry, L.L., and A. Parasuraman (1992). "Prescriptions for a Service Quality Revolution in America." Organizational Dynamics, Spring: 5-15.
5.
Berry, L.L., V.A. Zeithaml, and A. Parasuraman (1990). "Five Imperatives for Improving Service Quality ." Sloan Management Review, Summer : 29-38.
6.
Carman, J.M. (1990). "Consumer Perceptions of Service Quality: An Assessment of the SERVQUAL Dimensions." Journal of Retailing, 66 (Spring): 33-55.
7.
Cina, C. (1990). "Five Steps To Service Excellence." The Journal of Services Marketing, 4 (Spring): 39-47.
8.
Cronin, J.J., and S.A. Taylor (1992). "Measuring Service Quality: A Reexamination and Extension." Journal of Marketing, 56 (July): 55-68.
9.
Daniel, A.L. (1992). "Overcome the Barriers to Superior Customer Service ." The Journal of Business Strategy, January/February: 18-24.
10.
Davidow, W.H., and B. Uttal (1989). "Service Companies: Focus or Falter." Harvard Business Review, July-August: 77-85.
11.
Dempsey, P.S. (1991). "Has Deregulation Derailed American Industry." Business and Society Review, Spring: 53-55.
12.
Fryar, C.R. (1991). "What's Different About Services Marketing?" The Journal of Services Marketing, 5 (Fall): 53-58.
13.
Headley, D.E., and B. Choi (1992). "Achieving Service Quality Through Gap Analysis and a Basic Statistical Approach." The Journal of Services Marketing, 6 (Winter): 5-14.
14.
Parasuraman, A., V.A. Zeithaml, and L.L. Berry (1988). "SERVQUAL: A Multiple-Item Scale for Measuring Consumer Perceptions of Service Quality." Journal of Retailing , 64 (Spring): 12-40.
15.
Peter, J.P., and J.H. Donnelly, Jr. (1991). A Preface to Marketing Management . 5th ed. Homewood, IL: Irwin.
16.
Peters, T. (1987). Thriving on Chaos. New York : Harper and Row.
17.
Quinn, J.B. (1988). "Technology in Services: Past Myths and Future Challenges." Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 34: 327-50.
18.
Schroeder, L.D., D.L. Sjoquist, and P.E. Stephan (1986). Understanding Regression Analysis. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
19.
Shycon, H.N. (1992). "Improving Customer Service: Measuring the Pay-off ." The Journal of Business Strategy, January/February: 13-17.
20.
Turley, L.W. (1990). "Strategies For Reducing Perceptions of Quality Risk In Services." The Journal of Services Marketing, 4 (Summer): 5-12.
21.
Zeithaml, V.A., L.L. Berry, and A. Parasuraman (1988). "Communication and Control Processes in the Delivery of Service Quality." Journal of Marketing, 52 (April): 35-48.
22.
Zeithaml, V.A., A. Parasuraman, and L.L. Berry (1985). "Problems and Strategies in Services Marketing ." Journal of Marketing, 49 (Spring): 33-46.
23.
_( 1990). Delivering Quality Service: Balancing Customer Perceptions and Expectations. New York: The Free Press.
24.
Zellmer, W. (1992). "The Airline Mess." Business Week , July 6: 50-55.
25.
Zemke, R. (1992). "The Emerging Art of Service Management." Training, January: 36-42.